Almighty dollar driving wind turbine agenda

“Where does the Anti-Wind Turbine movement get its funding and why is it really making Industrial Wind Turbines such a big deal?” When I was asked this question the other day it made my wife and I look back at what we have observed in the last three years since we became interested in this issue. We believe it to be a David and Goliath struggle.

It is evident that the funding for the protest movement comes from voluntary donations from concerned citizens with no possibility of ‘tax receipts’. Collecting dollars in milk cans at information meetings is standard procedure. Their countless hours of work in organizing events and trying to educate the public are all ‘volunteered hours’ with no reimbursement or expense account perks. In most cases they have to sacrifice time away from their gainful employment.

As to why they are doing this, the answer is simple. They are truly a grass roots movement.

– Those directly affected are fighting to preserve their way of life, their health and their investment in homes and property.

– Those like ourselves who will not live in the shade of these giant turbines, are fighting to support our rural neighbours whose lives are being turned upside down. We are also fighting to try and help all Ontarians from suffering from an unviable energy policy that will ultimately hurt us all and provide little if any environmental benefit.

On the other hand the proponents or those who champion wind energy all seem to have a vested interest in making a dollar or in supporting political agendas. Many are backed by the large foreign-owned companies like NextEra and Samsung who have corporate lobbying power and deep pockets.

– All of their funding eventually comes from the ratepayers of Ontario in subsidy dollars and what we pay in our utility bills.

– Donations to their supporting groups and organizations be they professional or environmental, generally receive tax receipts. Many of these groups receive government grants and subsidy as well. Again at the end of the day it is taxpayer money.

– NextEra’s ‘Community Vibrancy Fund’ for example, has to eventually come from the subsidy dollars that we pay in our electricity bills. It would seem to me that they are using our dollars to try and buy influence for their own purpose.

It troubles me that our government and the Wind Industry seem unwilling to listen to the growing credible evidence that there are serious negative aspects to Industrial Wind Turbines. They disregard the grass roots opposition that is growing worldwide and blindly go forward with their misguided vision.

It is evident that it is the almighty dollar that is the driving force on this issue and not what is best for Ontario in the long run.

I am a retired Chief Warrant Officer (30 yrs – RCAF) who made my career in demolition/bombs/safety etc. and taught safety practices to the RCMP as well as military personnel. I was born on Campobello Island, NB, and now have retired here. Last year without the knowledge of residents in the peaceful hamlet of Welshpool, Campobello island, a project was approved by our newly formed and inexperienced Rural Community of Campobello Council, and who also sent a letter of support for the project initiated by an American resident who owns land here who started the project through an American wind turbine company about which little is known, except that we have a documented paper which happened to highlight a study on the same company and model number projected to be erected here which states the absolute contrary to what the turbine company has stated, and which is parroted by our Mayor! The residents of Welshpool are totally opposed to this project. The proposed average setback distance is approximately ½ mile however; a motel, restaurant and bakery are situated much closer! Our Council has remained silent and does not take our grave concerns regarding the unsafe setback, ice chard throw, possible turbine malfunction and fire (dangerous on a small island), devaluation of property, infra and low frequency noise that is so detrimental to health issues (especially those with pre existing conditions of which there are many!) into consideration, developing a cavalier approach to it all. Our elected representative for our ward did not even notify us regarding this project and no topical agendas for the meetings were posted. We have all made numerous protests through the Council, our representative, our Provincial and Federal representatives, as well as other avenues at our disposal. We have a vast collection of documents written by the scientific community that are documented and credible. We are opposed to the turbine being erected in our small community! Yet the beat apparently goes on, with no response from anybody! We are being victimized by big dollars and green greed while everybody knows, around the world, that the wind turbines are unsustainable and not viable. It is all about green credits, subsidies and land leased rental fees, regardless of the detrimental effects to the victims forced to live within unsafe parameters of the wind turbines. They are taking them down in Germany as they have recognized the problems and are scurrying to build coal generating and nuclear plants! Where is the wakeup call for the government and local officials? We need your help. Please write a letter of support, against the installation of this turbine in our peaceful community of Welshpool! We need responsible citizens of Canada to stand up with us and for us.
We are getting desperate for support alhtough many wonderful organizations have been so very helpful and we are most appreciative, we are not making any headway that we can track thus far, after weeks of work!